As the highly anticipated mini-auction for IPL 2024 approaches on December 19 in Dubai, former cricketer and esteemed analyst Sanjay Manjrekar has shed light on a potential game-changer in the mix: Australian speedster Mitchell Starc. Manjrekar emphasized the likelihood of a bidding war between MI and RCB for Starc, praising his ability to swing the ball in the air and deliver pinpoint yorkers, making him a formidable force.
“Teams that have to play half their home games on absolutely flat pitches may go for him. He is one bowler in the world who will maybe take the pitch out of the equation, do all the magic in the air, get swing and the hurl in yorkers with the new ball and at the death,” remarked Sanjay Manjrekar, speculating on Starc’s potential impact.
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Highlighting potential suitors, he stated, “Teams like Mumbai Indians, who have got (Jason) Behrendorff along with Jasprit Bumrah, could show interest in him after letting go Jofra Archer.”
Regarding RCB, he mentioned, “RCB has got Reece Topley, who is a pretty good bowler, but on flat pitches where most bowlers struggle, Starc and Bumrah are the kind of bowlers who will bring the team back into the game with their bowling because they don’t rely on the pitch as much as some of the other bowlers.”
Starc, familiar with the IPL, enters the auction with a base price of INR two crore. Having previously donned RCB colors in 2014 and 2015, the left-arm pacer boasts an impressive record of 34 wickets from 27 matches.
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In a parallel development, the IPL auction will feature a new auctioneer, Mallika Sagar, making her debut as the sole decision-maker for all aspects of the auction. The BCCI has confirmed this change, introducing an independent professional to oversee the proceedings and decisions during the auction in Dubai. As cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the event, Starc’s potential return adds an extra layer of excitement and strategic anticipation to the bidding wars.
